A concise, yet engaging introduction to the field of ethics, this volume offers a systematic study of the foundations of moral responsibility. Montague Brown guides the reader on an examination of a wide range of ethical positions, including relativism, emotivism, egoism, utilitarianism, Kantian formalism, and natural law.

Brown explains not only the history behind the development of each position, but also the roles science, democracy, and religion play in moral thinking today.

Students and teachers of philosophy, ethics, and religion, as well as the general reader, will find that this book tackles the serious issues and offers an insightful, accessible introduction to major ethical positions and the great moral philosophers.

Montague Brown is a professor of philosophy at St. Anselm College.

Preface

1. Anything Goes: RelativismReligion and EthicsCultural RelativismHistorical RelativismImplications of GroupsSubjective RelativisimTheoretical vs. Moral RelativismMoral Responsibility

2. Do What You Feel: EmotivismEmotivisim According to HumeLater Development of EmotivismSummary

3. Me First: Egoism and the Social ContractSocial Contract TheorySocial Contract Morality Since HobbsConclusions

4. All's Well That Ends Well: UtilitarianismPleasure, Pain, and MoralityUtilitarianism of J.S. MillRule UtilitarianismScientific ApproachFoundation for Moral JudgmentConclusions about Pleasure/Pain Theories

5. Duty Calls: Kant's FormalismKant's Reevaluation of ReasonDeterminism or FreedomPractical Reason

6. Do Good and Avoid Evil: Natural LawComparison with Other TheoriesMoral ResponsibilityRelationships among TraditionsSynthesis of CiceroFreedom and Natural Law

7. Retrospective and ReevaluationUtilitarian TheorySocial Construct TheoryEgoismEmotivismRelativismNatural Law and PluralismHistoricismConclusions

8. Ethics and Religion RevisitedEthics Derived from ReligionReligion as an Ethical ObligationMoral Importance of Religion

9. Epilogue: To Care or Not to Care

Notes

Index